苦参素对肾间质纤维化大鼠单核巨噬细胞浸润及MCP-1表达的影响

目的 观察苦参素对肾间质纤维化大鼠单核巨噬细胞（MC/MP）浸润,MCP-1及Ⅰ型胶原表达的影响。方法 大鼠行单侧输尿管结扎（UUO）建立肾小管间质纤维化模型。实验分为3组：假手术组,UUO组,苦参素治疗组。治疗组在UUO的基础上每天以苦参素100mg/Kg腹腔注射。各组于术后第14d分别处死5只大鼠。用PAS及Masson染色法观察肾脏病理改变。用免疫组织化学法观察肾间质ED-1阳性的MC/MP细胞浸润,单核细胞趋化蛋白-1（MCP-1）及Ⅰ型胶原（ColⅠ）的表达。结果 苦参素治疗组肾间质MC/MP细胞浸润数及MCP-1,ColⅠ的表达显著低于UUO组,肾小管变性和肾间质纤维化的程度也明显减轻。结论 苦参素可下调UUO大鼠肾间质MCP-1的表达,减少MC/MP细胞浸润,减轻肾间质纤维化。     

苦参素对单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾间质纤维化的保护作用

目的探讨苦参素对单侧输尿管梗阻(UUO)大鼠肾间质纤维化的影响及可能机制。方法45只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组:A假手术组,B单侧输尿管结扎(UUO)组,C治疗组。治疗组在UUO的基础上每天以苦参素100mg/Kg/d腹腔注射。B组和C组于术后第7,14,21,28分别处死5只大鼠,A组于第28天处死大鼠。用PAS及Masson染色法观察肾脏病理改变。用免疫组化法检测转化生长因子β1(transforming growth factor-beta1 TGF-β1),α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(alpha-smooth muscle actin-αSMA),Ⅰ型胶原(collagenⅠColⅠ)的表达。结果与UUO组相比,治疗组梗阻侧肾脏TGF-β1,-αSMA,ColⅠ的表达明显减少,肾小管损害和肾间质纤维化的程度也明显减轻。结论苦参素可通过下调TGF-β1,减少肾小管上皮细胞转分化而减轻肾间质纤维化。     

上调miR-200c通过抑制TGF-β1/Smad3通路减轻单侧输尿管梗阻小鼠肾纤维化

目的观察mi R-200c在单侧输尿管梗阻(unilateral ureteral obstruction,UUO)小鼠肾组织中的表达变化及其对UUO小鼠肾间质纤维化和TGF-β1/Smad3通路的影响。方法 45只C57BL/6J小鼠,随机数字表法分为假UUO组、UUO组、UUO+agomi R-200c组,每组15只。假UUO组仅游离左侧输尿管但不结扎;UUO组和UUO+agomi R-200c组通过结扎左侧输尿管建立的肾纤维化模型,手术后第1、7、14d两组小鼠分别给予生理盐水和agomir-200c尾静脉注射。第21d后处死全部小鼠,取血测定血肌酐(Scr)、血尿素氮(BUN)。取小鼠梗阻侧肾脏组织,HE染色和Masson染色评价肾小管间质损伤和肾间质纤维化损伤程度,实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)检测肾组织mi R-200c的表达,Western blotting检测肾组织TGF-β1、Smad3及α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)蛋白的表达。结果与假UUO组比较,UUO组小鼠肾组织mi R-200c的表达水平明显降低,血清Scr、BUN水平明显升高,肾小管间质损伤病理评分升高,肾胶原容积分数(c VF)增加,肾组织中TGF-β1、Smad3及α-SMA水平明显升高。与UUO组比较,UUO+agomi R-200c组小鼠肾组织mi R-200c的表达明显增高,血清Scr、BUN水平明显降低,肾小管间质损伤病理评分下降,肾胶原容积分数减少,肾组织中TGF-β1、Smad3及α-SMA水平明显降低。结论上调mi R-200c能够通过抑制TGF-β1/Smad3通路减轻UUO小鼠肾间质纤维化。     

甲磺酸伊马替尼对单侧输尿管梗阻小鼠肾间质纤维化的保护作用

目的研究甲磺酸伊马替尼（STI571）改善单侧输尿管梗阻（UUO）小鼠肾间质纤维化的作用及机制。方法48只小鼠随机分为4组：假手术组,模型组,小剂量治疗组（80mg/kg/d）,大剂量治疗组（160mg/kg/d）。采用左侧输尿管双结扎的方法建立UUO模型,治疗组每天以STI57180、160mg/Kg灌胃。分别于术后第8,11d分别处死各组小鼠6只。光镜下观察肾脏病理改变。用免疫组化技术检测肾组织TGF-β1、PAI-1、α-SMA和PCNA的表达。结果治疗组的肾间质纤维化定量显著低于模型组（P〈0.05）,且不同剂量组之间存在显著差异（P〈0.05）。模型组和治疗组左肾TGF-β1、PAI-1、α-SMA和PCNA的表达均随梗阻时间延长而逐渐增加,治疗组α-SMA和PCNA的表达较模型组明显减低（P〈0.05）。结论甲磺酸伊马替尼可显著减轻UUO小鼠梗阻侧肾脏间质纤维化,下调α-SMA和PCNA的表达,减少肾间质细胞外基质的沉积,对UUO小鼠肾间质纤维化有一定防治作用。     

单侧输尿管结扎再通大鼠模型的建立方法及其评价

目的比较单侧输尿管结扎（UUO）与单侧输尿管结扎再通（RUUO）建立的SD大鼠肾纤维化模型的优劣,从而得到更符合临床慢性肾衰进展特点的动物模型,以供临床药物筛选、疗效评介、科研、教学使用。方法健康SPF级雄性SD大鼠54只,随机分成假手术组、UUO组及UUO再通组各18只,造模成功后检测血肌酐（Scr）、尿素氮（BUN）及尿N-乙酰-β-D-氨基葡萄糖苷酶（NAG）,病理检查肾小管间质纤维化指数和免疫组化检查α-肌动蛋白（α-SMA）。结果无论从肾功能方面,还是病理检查方面,UUO再通的大鼠肾纤维化动物模型均优于UUO大鼠模型。结论再通UUO肾纤维化大鼠模型在功能及病理方面及其相关的免疫组化方面优于UUO组,其病理特点更符合慢性肾小管间质纤维化进程的动物模型。     

大鼠肾间质纤维化动物模型的实验研究

目的　观察单侧输尿管结扎 (UUO)大鼠模型中肾脏病理改变 ,肾组织α 平滑肌肌动蛋白 (α SMA)和纤维连接蛋白 (FN)表达的变化 ,证明UUO方法可快速制作理想的肾脏细胞转分化和间质纤维化动物模型。方法　大鼠随机分为假手术组 (SOR)和UUO组。随机选取各组中的 6只大鼠分别于单侧输尿管结扎术后 3天、 7天、 14天、 2 1天和 2 8天处死 ,收集血清与肾组织供生化及病理分析。结果　① 2 4小时尿蛋白定量 ,UUO组与假手术组无统计学差异。UUO术后 7～ 14天 ,大鼠出现明显血尿素氮、肌酐值升高 ;术后 2 1～ 2 8天 ,血尿素氮、肌酐值反而下降 ,但 2 8天时血肌酐值仍然高于假手术组 (P <0 0 5 )。②UUO组肾小管间质损伤评分 (TIS)明显高于假手术组。UUO术后 3天 ,肾脏组织出现了早期纤维化的病理改变。随着梗阻时间延长 ,小管间质纤维化程度和间质细胞增殖、炎细胞浸润逐渐加重 ,皮质变薄十分明显。术后 2 8天 ,Masson染色见皮质区、皮髓交界处纤维化明显 ,但肾小球仍无明显病变。③免疫组化结果显示 ,UUO术后 3天肾间质α SMA阳性细胞数和FN表达增加 ,并随时间递增。UUO术后 7天 ,可见少许α SMA阳性的转分化小管上皮细胞 ;术后14天转分化的小管上皮细胞明显增多。α SMA表达与FN表达成正相关 (r=0 996 ,P <     

羟苯磺酸钙通过抑制Ⅰ型胶原表达减轻肾间质纤维化

目的:研究羟苯磺酸钙对小鼠肾间质纤维化、Ⅰ型胶原表达的影响。方法:将C57小鼠随机分为假手术组(Sham组,n=4)、肾间质纤维化模型组(UUO组,n=5)及羟苯磺酸钙治疗组(CDT组,n=4);采用单侧输尿管梗阻制备肾间质纤维化模型,CDT组给予羟苯磺酸钙灌胃、Sham组和UUO组给予双蒸水灌胃;采用HE染色、Masson染色、免疫组化、实时定量PCR以及蛋白免疫印迹观察单侧输尿管梗阻术后14 d小鼠术侧肾脏的肾间质纤维化程度和Ⅰ型胶原表达情况。结果:与Sham组比较,UUO组小鼠术后14 d术侧肾脏肾发生显著肾间质纤维化,Ⅰ型胶原表达显著增强(Ⅰ型胶原基因相对表达量:Sham组:1.00000,UUO组:114.92289,P0.0001)。与UUO组比较,CDT组小鼠术后14 d术侧肾间质纤维化程度显著减轻,Ⅰ型胶原表达显著减弱(Ⅰ型胶原基因相对表达量:UUO组:114.92289,CDT组:45.33516,P0.005)。结论:羟苯磺酸钙通过抑制小鼠肾间质Ⅰ型胶原表达从而减轻单侧输尿管结扎小鼠肾间质纤维化。     

和络泄浊颗粒对大鼠肾间质纤维化miR-200a表达影响

目的：探索和络泄浊颗粒对大鼠肾脏纤维化中miR-200a 表达的影响及探讨其可能存在的作用机制。方法：30 只SD雄性大 鼠随机分为6 组：假手术组(Sham)、手术组(UUO)及和络泄浊颗粒(UUO+ REG)组各2 组，运用单侧（左）输尿管结扎法制造肾间质 纤维化模型，但Sham组仅游离输尿管，而其余两组则游离并结扎输尿管。术后各组按1 mg/kg·d-1的量进行灌胃，UUO+ REG组 给予REG，其余两组则予生理盐水。术后第7 天和14 天，摘除左梗阻侧肾脏进行免疫组化检查alpha-SMA和荧光定量PCR 检测 miR-200a 的表达。结果：在UUO及UUO+ REG 组，alpha-SMA 表达明显高于Sham 组（P＜0.01）；UUO+ REG 组低于UUO 组（P＜ 0.05）。miR-200a 表达水平在UUO 组和UUO+ REG 组都是降低的，但是UUO 组与Sham 组差别明显（P＜0.01），其与UUO+ REG组亦有明显的差别（P＜0.05）。结论：和络泄浊颗粒可以通过上调miR-200a 延缓肾脏纤维化进展。     

参麦注射液对单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾间质纤维化作用的研究

目的 探讨参麦注射液在单侧输尿管梗阻(UUO)大鼠肾间质纤维化进程中的可能作用.方法 成年SD大鼠54只,随机分为假手术组、模型组和参麦注射液治疗组.假手术组仅完成开腹过程,不结扎输尿管;模型组和参麦注射液治疗组行开腹左侧输尿管结扎术,术后参麦治疗组每天腹腔注射参麦注射液3 mL/(kg·d),假手术组与模型组则每天腹腔注射等量生理盐水.分别于实验的第7、14、21天各组处死动物6只,取左肾组织进行HE染色和α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)免疫组化检查,并测定梗阻侧肾组织中SOD和MDA含量.结果 与模型组比较,参麦注射液治疗组肾小管间质病理改变明显减轻,肾间质α-SMA表达减少;肾组织中SOD活性增加,MDA含量下降.结论 参麦注射液可通过减少氧化应激,减少肾间质α-SMA表达而抑制肾间质纤维化进程.     

沉默Wnt4基因抑制大鼠肾间质纤维化

目的探讨沉默Wnt4基因对肾间质纤维化的影响,为慢性肾病的治疗提供理论依据。方法 128只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、阴性对照组和Wnt4基因沉默组,每组32只。构建Wnt4 siRNA慢病毒载体体内转染沉默组的大鼠,于转染后第3、7、10、14天分为四个亚组,每组8只大鼠。通过H&E染色病理检查、RT-PCR技术检测肾间质改变及β-连环蛋白、Wnt4、α-SMA表达情况。结果 H&E染色病理检查结果表明:假手术组四个时间点未见肾间质改变;UUO组、阴性沉默组及沉默组造模后3 d出现肾间质水肿、少量肾间质纤维化,10、14 d肾间质弥漫性巨噬细胞、淋巴细胞浸润,呈加重趋势;阴性沉默组基因与UUO组相同;沉默组四个时间点均出现不同程度肾间质纤维化,14 d肾间质纤维化程度低于阴性沉默组及UUO组(P<0.05);Wnt4基因沉默后UUO组mRNA表达量的相关性分析显示,Wnt4与β-catenin mRNA表达量具有显著相关性(r=0.886,P<0.001)。Wnt4与α-SMA mRNA表达量具有显著相关性(r=0.930,P<0.001)。Wnt4基因沉默后沉默组mRNA表达量的相关性分析显示,Wnt4与β-catenin mRNA表达量无显著相关性(r=0.204,P=0.263)。Wnt4与α-SMA mRNA表达量具有显著相关性(r=0.753,P<0.001)。结论沉默Wnt4基因在肾间质纤维化大鼠中可明显抑制肾间质纤维化,可能对其有治疗作用。     

MMP-2 inhibition reduces renal macrophage infiltration with increased fibrosis in UUO

We examined the role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in renal fibrosis and its effect on interstitial macrophage infiltration in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). TISAM, a selective inhibitor of MMP-2, was administered during early stage (day -2 to 4; protocol A) and late stage (day 7 to 13; protocol B) after UUO. Treatment with TISAM accelerated fibrosis both at day 5 (A) and at day 14 (B). The degree of macrophage infiltration was decreased by the treatment with TISAM at day 14, but not at day 5. In vitro macrophage migration assay showed a greater migration to renal tissue of control UUO kidney (day 14) than to TISAM-treated kidney, which was suppressed by preincubating macrophages with RGDS, a fibronectin degradation peptide. These results suggest that MMP-2 acts to accelerate macrophage infiltration in the late stage of UUO, possibly by degrading extracellular matrix components.     

C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 improves renal fibrosis via inhibiting notch signaling pathways

C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) has been extensively reported as an important role involved in antifibrosis, antiapoptosis, and anti-inflammation. However, the role of CTRP3 involved in renal fibrosis remains unclear. Our current study explored the role of CTRP3 in renal fibrosis and its underlying mechanisms by using serums and renal biopsy specimens from renal fibrosis patients and control subjects, rats models with the surgery of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEpiCs). We found that circulating levels of CTRP3 had no significant difference between renal fibrosis patients and healthy subjects; however, renal CTRP3 expression was markedly downregulated in the fibrotic region with an abundant expression of collagen-I. In UUO rat models, circulating levels of CTRP3 have not changed with the prolonged obstruction of the kidney; renal CTRP3 expression was decreased with the severity of renal fibrosis; adenovirus-mediated CTRP3 treatment inhibited renal interstitial fibrosis. In vitro experiments revealed that CTRP3 attenuates TGF-β1 induced tubular epithelial cells fibrotic changes; CTRP3 knockdown facilitates the expression of fibrotic markers in TGF-β1-induced HRPTEpiCs; recombinant CTRP3 or adenovirus-mediated CTRP3 overexpression significantly inhibited the Notch signaling pathway-associated factors, and knockdown of CTRP3 increased TGF-β1-mediated activation of the Notch signaling pathways. Collectively, our current study found that CTRP3 could improve renal fibrosis, to some extent, through inhibiting the Notch pathway.     

Adoptive transfer of macrophages ameliorates renal fibrosis in mice

We performed adoptive transfer of bone marrow-derived (BM) macrophages following pharmacological depletion of leukocytes in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Treatment with cyclophosphamide (CPM) caused marked decrease in the numbers of F4/80-positive interstitial macrophages as well as in peripheral blood leukocyte counts, and adoptive transfer of BM macrophages to CPM-treated mice resulted in significant increase in the numbers of interstitial macrophages both at day 5 and at day 14 after UUO. At day 5 after UUO, no significant change was observed in the degree of renal interstitial fibrosis either by treatment with CPM or with CPM+macrophage. However, at day 14 after UUO, treatment with CPM caused significant increase in the degree of interstitial fibrosis, and adoptive macrophage transfer to these mice attenuated this enhancement in renal fibrosis. Our result suggests the role of infiltrating macrophages on facilitating tissue repair at late stage of UUO.     

Augmenter of liver regeneration ameliorates renal fibrosis in rats with obstructive nephropathy

Renal fibrosis is a hallmark in CKD (chronic kidney disease) and is strongly correlated to the deterioration of renal function that is characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, glomerulosclerosis and disruption of the normal architecture of the kidney. ALR (augmenter of liver regeneration) is a growth factor with biological functions similar to those of HGF (hepatocyte growth factor). In this study, our results indicate that endogenous ALR is involved in the pathological progression of renal fibrosis in UUO (unilateral ureteral obstruction) rat model. Moreover, we find that administration of rhALR (recombinant human ALR) significantly alleviates renal interstitial fibrosis and reduces renal-fibrosis-related proteins in UUO rats. Further investigation reveals that rhALR suppresses the up-regulated expression of TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor β1) induced by UUO operation in the obstructed kidney, and inhibits Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation activated by the UUO-induced injury in the animal model. Therefore we suggest that ALR is involved in the progression of renal fibrosis and administration of rhALR protects the kidney against renal fibrosis by inhibition of TGF-β/Smad activity.     

ATP synthase of yeast: structural insight into the different inhibitory potencies of two regulatory peptides and identification of a new potential regulator

Quantitative and qualitative alterations of renal oversulfated chondroitin/dermatan sulfates (C/DSs) accompanied by the development of tubulointerstitial nephritis were examined. The rat model with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a suitable model for study of renal interstitial fibrosis, and was utilized in the present study. Cortical regions of serial sections of UUO kidney and sham-operated kidney on glass slides were processed using a small surgical knife under dark field microscopy. Oversulfated C/DSs in tissue sections on a glass slide were degraded to unsaturated disaccharides using chondroitinase ABC and ACII digestion in the presence of bacterial collagenase. The resulting unsaturated disaccharides were subsequently determined by HPLC. These in situ investigations yielded the following results: (1) marked increases in oversulfated C/DSs content and decreases in the oversulfation degree of C/DSs were observed in fibrous lesions, compared to non-fibrous lesions, and (2) iduronic acid content in C/DSs in fibrous lesions was significantly lower than that in non-fibrous lesions. These findings indicate that oversulfated C/DSs with low-iduronic acid content represent a potential marker for tubulointerstitial nephritis.     

Reduced NOV/CCN3 Expression Limits Inflammation and Interstitial Renal Fibrosis after Obstructive Nephropathy in Mice

The main hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is excessive inflammation leading to interstitial tissue fibrosis. It has been recently reported that NOV/CCN3 could be involved in kidney damage but its role in the progression of nephropathies is poorly known. NOV/CCN3 is a secreted multifunctional protein belonging to the CCN family involved in different physiological and pathological processes such as angiogenesis, inflammation and cancers. The purpose of our study was to determine the role of NOV/CCN3 in renal inflammation and fibrosis related to primitive tubulointerstitial injury. After unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), renal histology and real-time PCR were performed in NOV/CCN3-/- and wild type mice. NOV/CCN3 mRNA expression was increased in the obstructed kidneys in the early stages of the obstructive nephropathy. Interestingly, plasmatic levels of NOV/CCN3 were strongly induced after 7 days of UUO and the injection of recombinant NOV/CCN3 protein in healthy mice significantly increased CCL2 mRNA levels. Furthermore, after 7 days of UUO NOV/CCN3-/- mice displayed reduced proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion markers expression leading to restricted accumulation of interstitial monocytes, in comparison with their wild type littermates. Consequently, in NOV/CCN3-/- mice interstitial renal fibrosis was blunted after 15 days of UUO. In agreement with our experimental data, NOV/CCN3 expression was highly increased in biopsies of patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis. Thus, the inhibition of NOV/CCN3 may represent a novel target for the progression of renal diseases.     

Temporal changes in renal endoglin and TGF-β1 expression following ureteral obstruction in rats

Chronic renal disease is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the kidney and a loss of renal function. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis has been reported to play an important role in the progression of chronic renal diseases. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a profibrotic cytokine playing a major contribution to fibrotic kidney disease. Endoglin is a membrane glycoprotein of the TGF-beta1 receptor system. The aim of this work was to determine the time-course expression of renal type I and IV collagens, endoglin and TGF-beta1 in a rat model of induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis at 1, 3, 10 and 17 days after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). In 17 days-ligated (L)-renal samples, a marked interstitial fibrosis was detected by Masson's trichromic and Sirius red staining, accompanied by an increase in type I collagen expression as shown by immunohistochemical analysis. Northern blot studies revealed a progressive increase in collagen alpha2(I), TGF-beta1 and endoglin mRNA expression in L kidneys when compared with the corresponding non-ligated (NL) kidneys from the animals subjected to left UUO. Seventeen days after UUO, significant increases in collagen alpha2(I), collagen alpha1(IV), TGF-beta1 and endoglin mRNA levels were detected in L kidneys vs NL kidneys. Significantly higher levels of the protein endoglin were found in L kidneys than in NL kidneys 10 and 17 days following obstruction. A marked increase expression for endoglin and TGF-beta1 was localized in renal interstitium by immunohistochemical studies 17 days after obstruction. In conclusion, this work reports the upregulation of endoglin coincident to that of its ligand TGF-beta1 in the kidneys of rats with progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced by UUO.     

Suppression of LMCD1 ameliorates renal fibrosis by blocking the activation of ERK pathway

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a common pathway of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is closely related to the progression of CKD. LMCD1, acting as an intermediary, has been reported to play a role in cardiac fibrosis. However, its role in renal fibrosis is yet to be deciphered. Based on the GEO database, we found the expression of LMCD1 is increased in kidney tissues of CKD patients and in human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), suggesting that LMCD1 may be involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Herein, we investigated the role of LMCD1 in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells. In the UUO model, the expression of LMCD1 was upregulated. UUO-induced renal histopathological changes were mitigated by knockdown of LMCD1. LMCD1 silence alleviated renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO mice by decreasing the expression of TGF-β1, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen III. LMCD1 deficiency suppressed cell apoptosis in kidney to prevent UUO-triggered renal injury. Furthermore, LMCD1 deficiency blocked the activation of ERK signaling in UUO mice. In vitro, LMCD1 was upregulated in HK-2 cells after TGF-β1 stimulation. LMCD1 silence abrogated TGF-β1-mediated upregulation of fibrotic genes. Treatment of HK-2 cells with ERK-specific inhibitor SCH772984 and agonist TPA validated LMCD1 exerted its function via activating ERK signaling. Together, our findings suggest that inhibition of LMCD1 protects against renal interstitial fibrosis by impeding ERK activation.